Your Next Bucket List Destination: Las Gachas, Guadalupe

I am currently studying Spanish as a second language at the EHE Spanish School. We’re situated in El Socorro, which is a delightful town in the Santander region. This gives us a great opportunity to explore the surrounding towns, but also the chance to go far to places like Bogota or Bucaramanga.

This weekend I did a day trip to Las Gachas because it’s only a skip and a hop away from Socorro. I travelled with friends that I have made through the EHE Spanish School and within Socorro. The perks of travelling around the small towns in Colombia is that there will always be lovely people who are always willing to help you along the way.

Make room for Las Gachas on your bucket list, because it is such a unique and natural gem of Santander, Colombia. This weekend I went to Guadalupe, Santander to visit Las Gachas, which are large naturally formed craters in a river. They are natural pools in a river and the photos don’t do it justice. The beauty of Las Gachas is that it is unspoiled by crowds of tourists. You can enjoy your time soaking up the beauty without worrying about finding a good spot (because it’s all amazing!). With the fantastic weather, there’s nothing better than taking a dip in the fresh waters of Las Gachas. So far, this has been one of my favourite destinations in Colombia.

How to get there

It is quite a challenge to get there, but it was well worth it. I was lucky enough to with a Colombian, who really helped us get there. We caught a bus from Socorro which took us to a town called Oiba. From Oiba, we got on the back of a people moving truck which took us as far as they could to Las Gachas.

Then we walked through the road and followed the signs which lead us to a picturesque paddock. We had to pay 1000 pesos to pass through the private property (which had a bathroom you can use).

At the end of the journey, you are rewarded with the beautiful pools. Relax and dip into the water and enjoy the best of what Colombia has to offer. If you’re feeling brave you can body slide across the rocks and into the pools. It’s great fun but it can be dangerous on those slippery rocks.

Because Las Gachas is situated in the farmland it’s difficult to find restaurants. Make sure you pack some food or snacks with you! We packed some bread rolls for the road. For lunch, we went to a café called De Mi Tierra, where we had sandwiches and fantastic coffee.

Most importantly, take a spare pair of socks with you. Las Gachas are very slippery, and wearing socks really helps prevent any unwanted accidents. Bring your sunglasses, hat, and some sunscreen with you too, to protect you from the rays.

To Learn Spanish in Colombia is a great experience.

Ashleigh Yi
Wellington, New Zealand
EHE Spanish School student